Vertically oriented debris blower assembly mounted to outdoor power equipment unit

ABSTRACT

A blower assembly for use with an outdoor power equipment unit comprises a turbine blower having a rotatable outlet duct that is carried on a blower frame in a vertically upright orientation with the fan section of the turbine blower being above the outlet duct. The turbine blower is laterally offset from a longitudinal centerline of the unit such that the height of the turbine blower is not positioned directly in front of the operator to leave the operator with a substantially unobstructed line of sight in a directly forward direction. The outlet duct has an open mouth through which the air flow is directed for clearing or blowing debris from a ground surface. An air egress opening is provided in a lower surface of the outlet duct adjacent the open mouth to allow a portion of the air flow exiting the open mouth to be directed more downwardly towards the ground than a remaining portion of the air flow.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to the field of outdoor power equipment unitsused for ground grooming, working, or maintenance operations, such asmowers for cutting grass or utility vehicles for carrying personnel andequipment, and more particularly to a blower assembly that may be usedon or as part of such a unit for clearing or blowing ground lying debrisin a desired direction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Turbine debris blower assemblies are known for clearing or blowingdebris, such as leaves, grass clippings, aeration cores, trash, etc.,off of various ground surfaces, such as roadways and other maintainedpaved areas, the cart paths, fairways and greens of golf courses, andthe like. For example, The Toro Company, the assignee of this invention,manufactures and sells a turbine debris blower assembly known as the ProForce™ Debris Blower (Model 44538). The Pro Force™ debris blowercomprises an engine driven turbine blower that is mounted horizontallyon a tow frame that can be hitched to the rear of a utility vehicle suchas a Workman® utility vehicle, also manufactured and sold by The ToroCompany. As the utility vehicle is driven over the ground surface thatis to be cleared, the operator can control the operation of the turbineblower using a hand held wireless remote control to direct the outletduct of the turbine debris blower in the direction in which it isdesired to blow the debris being cleared from the ground surface.

While the Pro Force™ debris blower is effective for the task for whichit is designed, the fact that it is mounted on a tow frame that istrailed behind the utility vehicle means that the operator of thevehicle, who faces forwardly while operating the vehicle, must turnaround and look to the rear if he or she wishes to observe the operationof the blower, e.g. to check and make sure the outlet duct of the bloweris pointed in the direction that he or she wishes. This is inconvenientfor the operator. The fact that the debris blower is powered by its ownseparate engine increases the expense of the debris blower due to thecost of the engine, particularly since the debris blower may only beinfrequently used or used only at certain times of the year in certainclimates. Finally, the horizontal orientation of the blower yields anoutlet duct that is less effective in blowing debris than might bedesired. For example, if the outlet duct is rotated on the fan sectionof the blower such that the rear end of the outlet duct is directly inline with the fan section in a fore-and-aft direction, the open mouth ofthe outlet duct will then either be facing directly upwardly away fromthe ground, which is useless for blowing debris, or directly downwardlyfacing the ground, which causes the air flow exiting from the open mouthto blast against the ground and spread out radially in all directionsrather than being directed in a single direction. Accordingly, it wouldbe an advance in the art to provide a debris blower that would obviateor alleviate some of these problems of known debris blowers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of this invention relates to a blower assembly which may beused with an outdoor power equipment unit having a self-propelledtraction frame carrying a plurality of ground engaging wheels such thatthe traction frame is capable of rolling movement over the ground duringoperation of the traction frame. The traction frame has an operator'sstation for carrying an operator thereon with the operator guiding andcontrolling the traction frame. The blower assembly comprises a blowerframe carried on a front end of the traction frame with the blower framebeing located forwardly of the operator's station. A debris blowercomprises a fan section having a rotatable vane array that rotates abouta rotational axis, the rotation of the vane array pulling air in throughan inlet at one end of the fan section, generating an axial air flowwithin the fan section, and discharging the axial air flow through anoutlet at an opposite end of the fan section. The debris blower furthercomprises an outlet duct cooperating with the fan section, wherein theoutlet duct is rotatably coupled to the outlet of the fan section forreceiving the axial air flow from the fan section to discharge the axialair flow onto the ground for blowing ground lying debris in a desireddirection, the outlet duct comprising a pipe section having an angledbend between an air flow receiving end and an open mouth thereof throughwhich the air flow is discharged. A mount is provided for supporting thedebris blower on the blower frame in a substantially verticallyextending orientation with the fan section of the debris blower beinglocated above the outlet duct. The blower frame and mount are configuredto position the substantially vertically extending debris blower in alaterally offset orientation sufficiently to one side of a longitudinalcenterline of the outdoor power equipment unit passing through theoperator's station such that the operator has a directly forward line ofsight that is substantially unobstructed by the debris blower when theoperator is located at the operator's station.

Another aspect of this invention relates to a blower assembly for usewith an outdoor power equipment unit having a self-propelled tractionframe. The blower assembly comprises a debris blower, which comprises afan section having a rotatable vane array that rotates about arotational axis, the rotation of the vane array pulling air in throughan inlet at one end of the fan section, generating an axial air flowwithin the fan section, and discharging the axial air flow through anoutlet at an opposite end of the fan section. The debris blower alsocomprises an outlet duct cooperating with the fan section, wherein theoutlet duct is rotatably coupled to the outlet of the fan section forreceiving the axial air flow from the fan section to discharge the axialair flow onto the ground for blowing ground lying debris in a desireddirection, the outlet duct comprising a pipe section having an angledbend between an air flow receiving end and an open mouth thereof throughwhich the air flow is discharged. The debris blower is carried on thetraction frame in a substantially vertical orientation with the fansection of the debris blower being located above the outlet duct. An airegress opening is provided in a lowermost surface of the pipe sectionadjacent to the open mouth, the air egress opening allowing a portion ofthe air flow exiting from the open mouth to be directed downwardlythrough the air egress opening towards the ground while a remainingportion of the air flow exits through the open mouth.

Yet another aspect of this invention relates to a blower assembly foruse with an outdoor power equipment unit having a self-propelledtraction frame carrying a plurality of ground engaging wheels such thatthe traction frame is capable of rolling movement over the ground duringoperation of the traction frame. The blower assembly comprises a blowerframe having at least one rotatable ground engaging member carriedthereon for providing the blower frame with a rolling engagement withthe ground that is separate from a rolling engagement of the tractionframe with the ground. The blower frame is carried on the traction frameby an attachment system having a mode that permits the blower frameduring operation of the blower assembly to move vertically up and downrelative to the traction frame independently of the traction frame. Adebris blower is provided which comprises a fan section having arotatable vane array that rotates about a rotational axis, the rotationof the vane array pulling air in through an inlet at one end of the fansection, generating an axial air flow within the fan section, anddischarging the axial air flow through an outlet at an opposite end ofthe fan section. The debris blower further comprises an outlet ductcooperating with the fan section, wherein the outlet duct is rotatablycoupled to the outlet of the fan section for receiving the axial airflow from the fan section to discharge the axial air flow onto theground for blowing ground lying debris in a desired direction, theoutlet duct comprising a pipe section having an angled bend between anair flow receiving end and an open mouth thereof through which the airflow is discharged. A mount supports the debris blower on the blowerframe in a substantially vertically extending orientation with the fansection of the debris blower being located above the outlet duct. The atleast one ground engaging member on the blower frame is adjustable inheight relative to the blower frame to raise and lower the blower frameto different heights above the ground to vary the distance of the outletduct of the blower relative to the ground.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This invention will be described in detail hereafter in the DetailedDescription, when taken in conjunction with the following drawings, inwhich like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a blower assembly according to oneembodiment of this invention, particularly illustrating the blowerassembly in an operational position in front of an outdoor powerequipment unit to which the blower assembly will be attached or coupled,and further particularly illustrating a support stand, that is usuallyused for supporting the blower assembly in a non-operational storageposition, in a stowed position on the blower assembly when the blowerassembly is in the operational position thereof;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the blower assembly of FIG. 1without the outdoor power equipment unit being depicted, particularlyillustrating the blower assembly in its non-operational storage positionwith the support stand having been deployed in its support position toallow the blower assembly to be self-supporting and remain upright inits non-operational storage position;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view similar to FIG. 2, but particularlyillustrating the support stand having been detached from the blowerframe prior to the support stand having been placed into its stowedposition on the blower assembly;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the blower assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the blower assembly of FIG. 1,particularly illustrating an air egress opening in a lower, groundfacing surface of an outlet duct of a blower that forms part of theblower assembly, the air egress opening permitting a portion of the airflow exiting through the outlet duct to be directed verticallydownwardly more directly towards the ground than a remaining portion ofthe air flow which exits through an open mouth of the outlet duct;

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the blower assembly of FIG. 1,particularly illustrating a blower frame, that also forms part of theblower assembly, supporting the blower in a substantially verticalorientation with various portions of the blower frame having beenremoved to illustrate various arrays of fixed and rotatable vanes withina fan section of the blower as well as a mechanical drive system used torotate the rotatable vanes of the blower to generate a downwardlydirected air flow;

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective of the blower assembly of FIG. 1,particularly illustrating the blower frame with other portions of theblower frame removed to illustrate a rotary drive system that can beselectively actuated by the operator to selectively rotate the outletduct of the blower about a generally vertical rotational axis to adjustor redirect the direction in which the air flow exits from the outletduct; and

FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view similar to FIG. 5, particularlyillustrating the outlet duct of the blower in a rotatively differentposition from the position of the outlet duct shown in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring first to FIG. 1, one embodiment of a blower assembly accordingto this invention is illustrated generally as 2. Blower assembly 2 ispreferably in the form of an attachment that is selectively installedwhen it is to be used on the front of an outdoor power equipment unitthat is designed for ground grooming, working or maintenance operations.While blower assembly 2 will be illustrated herein in conjunction with amower 4, it is not limited for use with a mower but may be used broadlywith outdoor power equipment units, including utility vehicles, such asthe Workman® utility vehicle, which carry personnel, tools and equipmentused for outdoor ground maintenance operations of many different types.

When not in use, blower assembly 2 is preferably removed from theoutdoor power equipment unit and placed into a storage position to awaitthe next use of blower assembly 2. However, if so desired, blowerassembly 2 may be carried on a single use outdoor power equipment uniton which blower assembly 2 is intended to be permanently installedrather than being selectively installed and removed. In either case, theprimary use of blower assembly 2 is to clear or blow ground lyingdebris, such as leaves, plant waste such as grass clippings, litter ortrash, etc., off the surfaces on which they are originally found. Forexample, when the outdoor power equipment unit carrying blower assembly2 is driven along a sidewalk or similar path, blower assembly 2 may beused to clear leaves from the path by blowing the leaves to the sides ofthe path or forwardly on the path.

Referring further to FIG. 1, when blower assembly 2 is an attachment fora multi-use outdoor power equipment unit, one such unit that may be usedto carry blower assembly 2 is a mower 4 having a traction frame 6 thatis supported for rolling over the ground by a pair of front wheels 7 andrear wheels 8. Some or all of wheels 7 and 8 are driven through atraction drive system (not shown) by a power source carried on tractionframe 6, such as an internal combustion engine (not shown), to causetraction frame 6 to be self-propelled over the ground. Traction frame 6carries a multi-bladed cutting deck (not shown) having a plurality ofrotary cutting blades that rotate in substantially horizontal cuttingplanes to cut a relatively wide swath of grass during each pass of themower over the ground. The cutting deck is normally mounted in anunderslung manner beneath traction frame 6 in a center mount positionbetween front wheels 7 and rear wheels 8 of mower 4. One type of mower 4that may be used to carry blower assembly 2 is the Groundsmaster® 360which is manufactured and sold by The Toro Company, the assignee of thisinvention.

Blower assembly 2 is preferably releasably attached to the front ofmower 4 using a known Quick Attach System™ (QAS) 10 which is alsomanufactured and sold by The Toro Company. QAS 10 includes an A-shapedmale coupler (not shown) provided on the front end of traction frame 6of mower 4. The A-shaped male coupler may be vertically lifted andlowered relative to traction frame 6, and thus relative to the ground,by a lift and lower hydraulic cylinder or similar actuator (not shown)carried on traction frame 6. The male coupler on mower 4 is shaped to bereceived and closely nested within a similarly shaped, but slightlylarger, A-shaped female coupler 12 provided on blower assembly 2. Infact, the Toro Company manufactures and sells a Quick Attach Front Frame(Model No. 30509) that can be mounted on the front end of traction frame6 of the Groundsmaster® 360 mower to provide mower 4 with the ability tocarry various other tools or implements in a front mounted position.Details of QAS 10 as used herein to couple blower assembly 2 to mower 4are also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,347,671 to Stiller et al., whichis hereby incorporated by reference. Thus, no further description of QAS10 is needed herein.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-5, blower assembly 2 has two primarycomponents: a blower frame 14 and a blower 16 that is carried on blowerframe 14 in a substantially vertical orientation.

Turning first to blower frame 14, blower frame 14 has a generallyinverted T-shape comprising a lower horizontal beam 18 having anupwardly extending central column 20 at the center of beam 18. Femalecoupler 12 of QAS 10 is preferably secured to the backside of centralcolumn 20 of blower frame 14 in a height adjustable fashion. As bestshown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, female coupler 12 is provided in thisinvention with a pair of laterally directed mounting flanges 22 thateach carries a pair of laterally spaced mounting bolts 24. Mountingflanges 22 may be either separate plates or opposite sides of a singleplate. Mounting flanges 22 abut against a pair of mounting plates 26that are fixed to or are part of central column 20. Each mounting plate26 carries thereon two laterally spaced arrays of vertically spacedholes 28 that are laterally aligned with the lateral locations of bolts24.

The vertical height or location of female coupler 12 on blower frame 14may be adjusted by using different holes 28 in the hole arrays toreceive bolts 24. For example, FIG. 2 shows bolts 24 received in thelowermost holes 28 in the hole arrays, thus providing the lowestposition of female coupler 12 on blower frame 4. Female coupler 12 maybe moved to vertically higher positions on blower frame 4 by usinghigher holes 28 in each hole array. Whether such height adjustment isnecessary depends upon the type of outdoor power equipment unit to whichblower assembly 2 is attached and the vertical location of the malecoupler on such outdoor power equipment unit. Providing such heightadjustability for female coupler 12 on blower frame 4 allows a singleblower assembly 2 to be used on a plurality of different outdoor powerequipment units where the male coupler may be at different heights.

Blower frame 14 carries a ground engaging caster wheel 30 on each end ofbeam 18 of blower frame 14. Each caster wheel 30 has a verticallyextending spindle that is rotatably carried within a verticallyextending, cylindrical hub 32 on each end of beam 18. Thus, each casterwheel 30 is free to swivel about the axis of its corresponding hub 32even as caster wheels 30 rotate about their own horizontal axes. Casterwheels 30 thus provide blower frame 14 with its own rolling engagementwith the ground that is separate from the rolling engagement of tractionframe 6 with the ground. Normally during operation of blower assembly 2,the lift and lower actuator of QAS 10 will be placed into a float modesuch that blower frame 14 is free to move up and down independentlyrelative to mower 4 in response to ground contours experienced locallyby blower frame 14 with caster wheels 30 maintaining substantiallycontinuous contact with the ground. Occasionally, the operator of mower4 might use the lift and lower actuator of QAS 10 in a non-float mode tolift blower frame 14 including caster wheels 30 entirely up off theground and to hold blower frame 14 in an elevated, suspended positionraised above the ground during operation of blower assembly 2.

The height of caster wheels 30 can be adjusted upwardly or downwardlyrelative to beam 18 of blower frame 14 in a known manner usingconventional height adjustment spacers 34. This height adjustment is forthe purpose of raising or lowering blower 16 that is carried on blowerframe 14 to adjust the height of blower 16 relative to the ground.Referring to FIG. 2 herein, blower 16 has its lowest vertical positionrelative to the ground since all of the spacers 34 are located betweenthe top of hub 32 and a screw cap 36 on top of the spindle that carriescaster wheel 30. If screw cap 36 is taken off of the spindle, casterwheel 30 can be dropped down out of hub 32, and a desired number ofspacers 34 can then be placed around the spindle for use between thebottom of hub 32 and caster wheel 30 before the spindle is reinsertedwithin hub 32 and screw cap 36 is reinstalled. Relocating spacers 34 inthis manner from the top to the bottom of hub 32 has the effect ofmoving caster wheels 30 further below beam 18 to thereby raise blowerframe 14 and blower 16 carried thereon further upwardly away from theground. In addition, further height adjustability is provided bymultiple, vertically spaced holes 31 in the side walls of the yoke thatcarries the horizontal axle or pivot shaft 33 on which each caster wheel30 is rotatably journalled. See FIG. 6.

As noted earlier, the other primary component of blower assembly 2 isblower 16. Blower 16 preferably is a turbine blower comprising from topto bottom an upper fan section 38, an intermediate drive section 40 thathouses at least a portion of a mechanical drive system to the fansection, and a lower outlet duct 42. The adjectives “upper”,“intermediate” and “lower” are used because the various portions ofblower 16 so described are oriented vertically when blower 16 is mountedon blower frame 14.

A horizontal cantilever mount 44 supports blower 16 on the upper end ofcentral column 20 with the free end of mount 44 attaching to blower 16at the level of intermediate drive section 40. Significantly, mount 44of blower frame 14 does not extend straight forwardly from centralcolumn 20. Rather, mount 44 is laterally angled to one side of centralcolumn 20 such that blower 16 is laterally offset from a fore-and-aftcenterline of blower frame 14. The purpose of this lateral offset willbe described later herein.

Fan section 38 of blower 16 includes an annular space located between acylindrical, outer fan casing 46 (see FIG. 2) and a cylindrical, innerfan casing 48 (see FIG. 6 where outer fan casing 46 has been removed)that is concentric within outer fan casing 46. Referring further to FIG.6, fan casings 46 and 48 are rigidly connected to one another by aplurality of circumferentially spaced radial struts 50 extending betweenthem. Blower 16 is called a turbine blower because it carries two arrays52 _(u) and 52 _(b) of curved blades or vanes 54 located generally inthe annular space between fan casings 46 and 48 in a manner similar tothe various fan stages in the turbine of a jet engine. Vanes 54 in theupper first array 52 _(u) are rotatable as a group or unit about asubstantially vertical rotational axis y in a manner to be describedhereafter. Vanes 54 in the second lower array 52 _(b) are fixed in placebetween fan casings 46 and 48 to form a fixed stator. As the upper vanearray 52 _(u) is rotated, atmospheric air is drawn downwardly through anupper protective screen 56 to create a downwardly directed, axiallyextending, relatively strong air flow that is projected verticallydownwardly through the annular space and through the fixed vane array 52_(b) to exit the annular space through the bottom thereof.

Drive section 40 is located immediately beneath fan section 38 and has acylindrical outer casing 58 that has a much shorter vertical height thanouter fan casing 46 of fan section 38. Drive section 40 basically hastwo purposes. The first purpose is to form a continuation of outer fancasing 46 to thereby receive the vertically directed air flow generatedwithin fan section 38 to conduct this air flow further downwardly. Inthis sense, drive section 40 can be thought of as a continuation of oras a part of fan section 38. The second purpose is to house a portion ofa mechanical drive system 60 that is used to rotate the array 52 _(u) ofrotatable vanes 54 in fan section 38.

Referring now to FIG. 6, drive system 60 used for powering rotatablevane array 52 _(u) comprises a substantially horizontal drive shaft 62carried on the back of blower frame 14. Drive shaft 62 has a rear end 64that may be suitably coupled or connected in any known manner to a powertake off shaft (PTO) (not shown) on traction frame 6 of mower 4. Thefront end of drive shaft 62 forms the input to a right angletransmission or gear box 66. The output of gear box 66 is a verticaldrive shaft 68. Drive shaft 68 and gear box 66 are housed within centralcolumn 20 of blower frame 14 with the drive shaft 68 extending upthrough the length of central column to locate the upper end of driveshaft 68 within one end of cantilever mount 44.

The upper end of drive shaft 68 serves as the input to a belt and pulleydrive system 70 connected between drive shaft 68 and a shaft 72 thatdrives rotatable vane array 52 _(u). Belt and pulley drive system 70 ishoused within mount 44 and within drive section 40. Fan casing 58 ofdrive section 40 has an opening in one side thereof to allow a portionof belt and pulley drive system 70 to be located within drive section 40beneath fan section 38.

As shown in FIG. 6, belt and pulley drive system 70 includes an inputpulley 74 on the upper end of drive shaft 68, an output pulley 76 on thelower end of a rotatable vane driving shaft 72, a flexible drive belt 78entrained around input and output pulleys 74 and 76, and a spring biasedidler pulley 79 for maintaining appropriate tension on drive belt 78.Thus, when blower assembly 2 is mounted on mower 4 via QAS 10 and thehorizontal drive shaft 62 is coupled to the PTO on mower 4, rotation ofthe PTO is transmitted through horizontal drive shaft 62, through rightangle gear box 66, through vertical drive shaft 68, and through belt andpulley drive system 70 to shaft 72 that powers rotatable vane array 52_(u). As rotatable vane array 52 _(u) is rotated, a strong air flow isdeveloped within fan section 38 that is directed downwardly throughdrive section 40 to be received within the upper end of lower outletduct 42.

Outlet duct 42 is preferably, but not necessarily, in the shape of apipe section 80 having a shape and size that is approximately the sameas the shape and size of outer fan casing 46 of fan section 38. In otherwords, if one were to take cross-sections through pipe section 80 andfan section 38 orthogonally to the centerlines or axes along which pipesection 80 and fan section 30 are elongated, pipe section 80 would havea substantially circular cross-section with a diameter substantially thesame as the substantially circular cross-section and diameter of outerfan casing 46 of fan section 38. Pipe section 80 is in the form of anelbow having an angled bend between its upper end 82 which receives theair flow generated by fan section 38 and an approximately horizontallydirected open mouth 84 which allows the air flow to exit from outletduct 42. The amount of the bend can vary but is preferably about 90°.

Upper end 82 of pipe section 80 is rotatably journalled in any suitablefashion on the lower end of drive section 40. This allows outlet duct 42formed by pipe section 80 to be rotatably adjusted about a substantiallyvertical axis that is substantially the same as the vertical rotationalaxis of rotatable vane array 52 _(u) of blower 16. This rotatableadjustment of outlet duct 42 is for the purpose of changing thedirection in which open mouth 84 of outlet duct 42 is pointing tothereby selectively change or vary the direction of the air flow exitingfrom outlet duct 42.

A rotary drive system 86 is provided to allow the operator of mower 4 toremotely adjust the position of outlet duct 42 from an operator'sstation 88 provided on mower 4. In one embodiment thereof, operator'sstation 88 includes a seat 89 on which the operator sits while operatingmower 4. In any event and referring now to FIG. 7, drive system 86 foroutlet duct 42 preferably comprises a hydraulic motor 90 mounted onblower frame 14 generally within central column 20 thereof. Hydraulicmotor 90 has ports 92 that connect to hydraulic hoses (not shown) thatbring pressurized fluid to and from a source of such fluid on mower 4for operating motor 90 to cause rotation of an upwardly extending driveshaft 94 of motor 90. A belt and pulley drive system 96 is providedbetween drive shaft 94 of motor 90 and upper end 82 of outlet duct 42 torotate outlet duct 42 when drive shaft 94 of motor 90 is selectivelyoperated by the operator using suitable controls at operator's station88. Motor 90 is reversible to allow the rotation of outlet duct 42 tooccur in opposite directions.

It should be apparent from the above that upper end 82 of outlet duct 42can be swung or rotated about axis y as desired by the operator todirect outlet duct 42 in a particular direction. For example, supposethe operator desires to use blower assembly 2 to blow leaves or otherdebris on the ground to the right of mower 4 as mower 4 is drivenforwardly. If this is the case, the operator can activate motor 90 toswing outlet duct 42 around to the right on blower frame 14 until themouth of outlet duct 42 is pointing to the right. FIG. 5 shows outletduct 42 having been swung around to the right as far as possible withopen mouth 84 of the duct actually pointing to the right and somewhatrearwardly. By contrast, FIG. 8 shows outlet duct 42 having been swungaround to the left approximately 180° with open mouth 84 of the duct nowpointing somewhat forwardly and to the left. Outlet duct 42 can bepositioned anywhere within an approximately 270° range of motion.

Referring now to FIG. 5, open mouth 84 of outlet duct 42 includes acentral, relatively short, air egress opening 98 in a lower surfacethereof facing the ground. Opening 98 is preferably in the form of asingle, straight sided slot, but other shapes and sizes could be usedfor opening 98. Opening 98 permits a portion of the air flow passingthrough open mouth 84 of outlet duct 42 to be directed more downwardlytowards the ground than the remaining portion of the air flow that exitssubstantially horizontally from open mouth 84. Thus, instead of having agenerally cylindrical column of air projected from open mouth 84 in asubstantially horizontal direction, the air flow passing out of mouth 84will have a fan shape in vertical cross-section where opening 98 ispresent. In other words, the air flow passing down through opening 98will have both horizontal and vertical flow components to reach areas ofthe ground closer to open mouth 84 than would otherwise be possible.While the presence of opening 98 in the lower surface of outlet duct 42adjacent open mouth 84 is preferred as it enhances the debris sweepingcharacteristics of outlet duct 42, opening 98 could be dispensed with bynot forming such slot in outlet duct 42 in the first place or byallowing the operator to selectively cover or block opening 98 using aselectively installable and removable cover or shield (not shown) overopening 98.

Finally, a support stand 100 is provided for allowing blower assembly 2to be self-supporting on the ground or on the floor of a maintenanceshed or the like when blower assembly 2 is detached from mower 4 and isnot in use. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, stand 100 is basically L-shapedhaving a substantially horizontal mounting arm 102 with a front end thatcarries a vertically extending jack 104, similar to a boat trailer jack,with a ground engaging foot 106 at the lower end thereof. Jack 104carries a tethered pin 108 that can be used to pin or releasably securethe housing of jack 104 to the front end of mounting arm 102. Jack 104has a rotatable crank or handle 110 that can be used to lift and lowerfoot 106 as needed for foot 106 to engage the ground and help supportblower assembly 2 in a substantially upright position. In addition,lifting and lowering foot 106 can help raise and lower female coupler 12on blower frame 14 relative to the ground somewhat to help betterposition coupler 12 for receiving the male coupler of QAS 10 when theoperator is trying to attach blower assembly 2 to QAS 10. The rear endof mounting arm 102 is received and pinned within a forwardly facing,horizontal hub 112 on blower frame 14 by a U-shaped pin 114 when stand100 is affixed to blower frame 14 as shown in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, after mower 4 has been driven towards blowerassembly 2 to cause the various portions of QAS 10 to engage with oneanother to couple blower assembly 2 to the front end of mower 4, stand100 can be disengaged from blower frame 14. This is accomplished byunpinning mounting arm 102 of stand 100 from horizontal hub 112 in whichit had been received. Stand 100 is not needed and is not used whenblower assembly 2 is in its operational position attached to mower 4.

For the sake of convenience, a vertically upright hub 116 is provided onblower frame 14 for storing stand 100 on blower frame 14 so that it iseasily accessible to the operator the next time blower assembly 2 is tobe put back into its self-supporting storage position. Once stand 100 isdisconnected from horizontal hub 112, the rear or free end of mountingarm 102 can simply be dropped down into upright hub 116. When soreceived, mounting arm 102 is long enough to position jack 104 andspecifically foot 106 thereof above cantilever mount 44. See FIG. 1showing foot 106 of jack 104 resting atop mount 44. Pin 114 can then beused to pin or secure mounting arm 102 of stand 100 within upright hub116. In this position, stand 100 is conveniently carried on blower frame14 without risk of being lost and with the advantage that it is at handwhen it is needed next. As shown in FIG. 1, in the operational positionof blower assembly 2, stand 100 is put into this storage position and isno longer in the deployed position shown in FIG. 2.

When blower assembly 2 is installed on mower 4, blower frame 14 issubstantially centered on the longitudinal fore-and-aft centerline ofmower 4 which mower centerline passes through the center of operator'sseat 89. The lateral centering of blower frame 14 is meant to mean thatthe lateral wheelbase of blower frame 14 is substantially centered onthe longitudinal centerline of mower 4 with each caster wheel 30 onblower frame 14 being spaced on opposite sides of the longitudinalcenterline of mower 4 by approximately the same distance. However, evenwhen blower frame 14 is substantially centered in this manner, due tothe offset mounting of blower 16 on blower frame 14 using angled mount44, blower 16 is sufficiently laterally offset from the longitudinalcenterline of mower 4 such that it is positioned well to one side of theoperator's directly forward line of sight towards the front of mower 4when the operator is sitting on seat 89. This offset mounting is furtherenhanced by the fact that mechanical drive system 60 for driving blower16, including belt and pulley drive system 70 powering shaft 72 thatdrives rotatable vane array 52 _(u), is positioned beneath fan section38 and drives rotatable vane array 52 _(u) through a bottom belt andpulley drive system 70 and interior shaft 72. Thus, there are noupwardly protruding, visible drive shafts or the like that run up alongthe exterior of fan section 38 to attempt to drive rotatable vane array52 _(u) from the top.

The substantially unobstructed view of the operator to the front meansthat the operator can better see to the front and control the directionof mower 4, and the direction in which outlet duct 42 is pointing, eventhough blower 16 is tall enough to have blocked the operator's view tothe front had blower 16 been placed directly in front of the operator'sseat 89. Thus, the offset mounting of blower 16 eases the task ofoperating mower 4 and of blowing ground lying debris in a desireddirection.

Various modifications of this invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art. Thus, the scope of this invention is to be limitedonly by the appended claims.

1. A blower assembly for use with an outdoor power equipment unit havinga self-propelled traction frame carrying a plurality of ground engagingwheels such that the traction frame is capable of rolling movement overthe ground during operation of the traction frame, the traction framehaving an operator's station for carrying an operator thereon with theoperator guiding and controlling the traction frame, which comprises:(a) a blower frame carried on a front end of the traction frame with theblower frame being located forwardly of the operator's station; (b) adebris blower, which comprises: (i) a fan section having a rotatablevane array that rotates about a rotational axis, the rotation of thevane array pulling air in through an inlet at one end of the fansection, generating an axial air flow within the fan section, anddischarging the axial air flow through an outlet at an opposite end ofthe fan section; and (ii) an outlet duct cooperating with the fansection, wherein the outlet duct is rotatably coupled to the outlet ofthe fan section for receiving the axial air flow from the fan section todischarge the axial air flow onto the ground for blowing ground lyingdebris in a desired direction, the outlet duct comprising a pipe sectionhaving an angled bend between an air flow receiving end and an openmouth thereof through which the air flow is discharged; and (c) a mountfor supporting the debris blower on the blower frame in a substantiallyvertically extending orientation with the fan section of the debrisblower being located above the outlet duct, the blower frame and mountbeing configured to position the substantially vertically extendingdebris blower on a laterally offset orientation sufficiently to one sideof a longitudinal centerline of the outdoor power equipment unit passingthrough the operator's station such that the operator has a directlyforward line of sight that is substantially unobstructed by the debrisblower when the operator is located at the operator's station.
 2. Theblower assembly of claim 1, wherein the blower frame has a lateralwheelbase of a predetermined width as determined by at least one groundengaging member on the blower frame carried thereon for providing theblower frame with a rolling engagement with the ground that is separatefrom a rolling engagement of the traction frame with the ground, whereinthe blower frame is substantially centered on the longitudinalcenterline of the outdoor power equipment unit by substantiallycentering the lateral wheelbase of the blower frame on the longitudinalcenterline of the outdoor power equipment unit, and wherein thelaterally offset orientation of the debris blower is achieved by havingthe mount angled relative to the blower frame such that the mountextends laterally to the one side of the longitudinal centerline of theoutdoor power equipment unit.
 3. The blower assembly of claim 2, whereinthe at least one ground engaging member on the blower frame comprises apair of laterally spaced ground engaging wheels on the blower frame withthe lateral wheelbase comprising a lateral distance between the twowheels.
 4. The blower assembly of claim 2, wherein the mount extendsbetween the blower frame and the debris blower at a generally midpointposition of the debris blower connecting to the debris blowersubstantially in an intermediate location where the fan section andoutlet duct are adjacent one another.
 5. The blower assembly of claim 4,wherein a portion of a mechanical drive system that powers the rotatablevane array is housed within the mount.
 6. The blower assembly of claim5, wherein the portion of the mechanical drive system that is housedwithin the mount comprises a belt and pulley drive system having adriven pulley connected to a shaft that rotatably drives the rotatablevane array.
 7. The blower assembly of claim 6, wherein the debris blowercomprises a turbine debris blower having a fixed vane array in additionto the rotatable vane array with the rotatable vane array being locatedabove the fixed vane array, and wherein the shaft the rotatably drivesthe rotatable vane array passes upwardly through the fan section withthe driven pulley connected to a lower end of the shaft which lower endis located beneath the fixed vane array.
 8. The blower assembly of claim4, wherein the mechanical drive system further includes one or moreconnecting drive shafts that couple the portion of the mechanical drivesystem that is housed within the mount to a power take off shaft on thetraction frame such that the debris blower is powered by a power sourceon the traction frame that in turn powers the power take off shaft. 9.The blower assembly of claim 1, wherein the pipe section that forms theoutlet duct is in the form of an elongated cylindrical pipe having anelbow shape which is curved about a radius to form the angled bendtherein, wherein the air receiving upper end of the pipe section extendsvertically to join with the fan section and the open mouth of the outletduct extends substantially horizontally, and wherein the fan section hasan outer fan casing that has an elongated, vertically extending,cylindrical shape.
 10. The blower assembly of claim 9, whereincross-sections taken through the pipe section and through the outer fancasing of the fan section orthogonally to the centerlines or axes alongwhich the pipe section and fan section are elongated would havesubstantially the same circular cross-sectional shapes and diameters.11. The blower assembly of claim 1, wherein the portion of the pipesection defining the open mouth is substantially closed around itsperiphery except for an air egress opening that is additionally providedin a lowermost surface of the portion of the pipe section defining theopen mouth adjacent to the open mouth, the air egress opening allowing aportion of the air flow exiting from the open mouth to be directeddownwardly through the air egress opening towards the ground while aremaining portion of the air flow exits through the open mouth.
 12. Theblower assembly of claim 1, wherein the outdoor power equipment unit isa mower for cutting grass.
 13. The blower assembly of claim 1, whereinthe blower assembly is selectively installable and removable from theoutdoor power equipment unit.
 14. The blower assembly of claim 13,wherein the blower assembly includes a support stand having a groundengaging foot that is attached to the blower frame, wherein the foot ofthe support stand engages against the ground to support the blowerassembly in an upright, self-supporting orientation in a non-operativestorage position of the blower assembly.
 15. The blower assembly ofclaim 14, wherein the ground engaging foot of the support stand ismounted on a front end of a horizontal mounting arm that is releasablyconnected within a horizontal hub on the blower frame to attach thesupport stand to the blower frame in the non-operative storage positionof the blower assembly.
 16. The blower assembly of claim 15, wherein theblower frame includes a vertical hub into which the mounting arm of thesupport stand may be dropped such that the mounting arm extendsvertically when received in the vertical hub to carry the support standon the blower frame with the ground engaging foot out of contact withthe ground in an operative use position of the blower assembly.
 17. Theblower assembly of claim 16, wherein the ground engaging foot of thesupport stand rests atop a portion of the blower frame when the supportstand has the mounting arm thereof resting within the vertical hub. 18.The blower assembly of claim 17, wherein the ground engaging foot ispart of a jack that may be selectively operated to raise and lower thefoot relative to the mounting arm to cause the foot to come intoengagement with the ground in the non-operative storage position of theblower assembly.
 19. A blower assembly for use with an outdoor powerequipment unit having a self-propelled traction frame, which comprises:(a) a debris blower, which comprises: (i) a fan section having arotatable vane array that rotates about a rotational axis, the rotationof the vane array pulling air in through an inlet at one end of the fansection, generating an axial air flow within the fan section, anddischarging the axial air flow through an outlet at an opposite end ofthe fan section; (ii) an outlet duct cooperating with the fan section,wherein the outlet duct is rotatably coupled to the outlet of the fansection for receiving the axial air flow from the fan section todischarge the axial air flow onto the ground for blowing ground lyingdebris in a desired direction, the outlet duct comprising a pipe sectionhaving an angled bend between an air flow receiving end and an openmouth thereof through which the air flow is discharged; and (iii)wherein the debris blower is carried on the traction frame in asubstantially vertical orientation with the fan section of the debrisblower being located above the outlet duct; and (b) wherein an airegress opening is provided in a lowermost surface of the pipe sectionadjacent to the open mouth, the air egress opening allowing a portion ofthe air flow exiting from the open mouth to be directed downwardlythrough the air egress opening towards the ground while a remainingportion of the air flow exits through the open mouth.
 20. A blowerassembly for use with an outdoor power equipment unit having aself-propelled traction frame carrying a plurality of ground engagingwheels such that the traction frame is capable of rolling movement overthe ground during operation of the traction frame, which comprises: (a)a blower frame having at least one rotatable ground engaging membercarried thereon for providing the blower frame with a rolling engagementwith the ground that is separate from a rolling engagement of thetraction frame with the ground, wherein the blower frame is carried onthe traction frame by an attachment system having a mode that permitsthe blower frame during operation of the blower assembly to movevertically up and down relative to the traction frame independently ofthe traction frame; (b) a debris blower, which comprises: (i) a fansection having a rotatable vane array that rotates about a rotationalaxis, the rotation of the vane array pulling air in through an inlet atone end of the fan section, generating an axial air flow within the fansection, and discharging the axial air flow through an outlet at anopposite end of the fan section; and (ii) an outlet duct cooperatingwith the fan section, wherein the outlet duct is rotatably coupled tothe outlet of the fan section for receiving the axial air flow from thefan section to discharge the axial air flow onto the ground for blowingground lying debris in a desired direction, the outlet duct comprising apipe section having an angled bend between an air flow receiving end andan open mouth thereof through which the air flow is discharged; (c) amount for supporting the debris blower on the blower frame in asubstantially vertically extending orientation with the fan section ofthe debris blower being located above the outlet duct; and (d) whereinthe at least one ground engaging member on the blower frame isadjustable in height relative to the blower frame to raise and lower theblower frame to different heights above the ground to vary the distanceof the outlet duct of the blower relative to the ground.